'Light' fare at restaurant with $4,000 LED-filled table

The future of dining is now here. At least, that's what Tamara Bourso was thinking when she invested in a touch-sensitive, light-filled table at her Central Square restaurant.

David L. Harris

The future of dining is now here. At least, that's what Tamara Bourso was thinking when she invested in a touch-sensitive, light-filled table at her Central Square restaurant.

Bourso, co-owner of Cuchi Cuchi on Main Street, recently bought the table for her restaurant, which serves international food featuring “small plates,” after her daughter spotted it on the video sharing site, YouTube.

“She said, ‘Wouldn’t that be cool?’ and I said of course it’ll be cool,” said Bourso, who also owns Dali in Somerville.

Bourso had the table specially designed. And at $4,000, it wasn’t cheap for a table containing 480 LEDs and 32 interactive sensors.

When a plate or a hand or silverware is placed on the table, the sensors kick into overdrive and light up green, yellow and and orange.

“As far as we know it’s the only restaurant that has such a table,” said Jeffrey McGrew, an Oakland, Calif.-based furniture designer.

Right now, Bourso doesn’t know what kind of impact the table will have on diners’ eating habits, but so far the results have been good.